strontium-radioisotopes and Leukemia

Topics: Blood Cells; Cesium Isotopes; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cobalt Radioisotopes; Cytidine; Erythrocytes; Extracorporeal Circulation; Hematocrit; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Isotope Labeling; Kinetics; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Lymphocytes; Methotrexate; Radiation Effects; Radioisotope Teletherapy; Radioisotopes; Radiotherapy Dosage; Reticulocytes; Strontium Radioisotopes; Thymidine; Tritium; Yttrium Isotopes

The Mayak Production Association was the first site for the production of weapons-grade plutonium in Russia. Early operations led to the waterborne release of radioactive materials into the small Techa River. Residents living downstream used river water for drinking and other purposes. The releases and subsequent flooding resulted in deposition of sediments along the shoreline and on floodplain soil. Primary routes of exposure were external dose from the deposited sediments and ingestion of 90Sr and other radionuclides. Study of the Techa River Cohort has revealed an increased incidence of leukemia and solid cancers. Epidemiologic studies are supported by extensive dose-reconstruction activities that have led to various versions of a Techa River Dosimetry System (TRDS). The correctness of the TRDS has been challenged by the allegation that releases of short-lived radionuclides were much larger than those used in the TRDS. Although the dosimetry system depends more upon measurements of 90Sr in humans and additional measurements of radionuclides and of exposure rates in the environment, a major activity has been undertaken to define more precisely the time-dependent rates of release and their radionuclide composition. The major releases occurred during 1950-1951 in the form of routine releases and major accidental releases. The reevaluated amount of total release is 114 PBq, about half of which was from accidents that occurred in late 1951. The time-dependent composition of the radionuclides released has also been reevaluated. The improved understanding presented in this paper is possible because of access to many documents not previously available.

Topics: Cohort Studies; Humans; Leukemia; Neoplasms; Nuclear Reactors; Plutonium; Radioactive Waste; Radioisotopes; Radiometry; Rivers; Russia; Strontium Radioisotopes; Water Pollution, Radioactive

Data now available on the risks of radiation-induced fatal cancer and hereditary disease and radionuclide metabolism suggest that limits on the rates of intake of 90Sr, 226Ra and 239Pu at work, presently recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, might be in need of considerable revision one with another and with the limit for uniform exposure of the whole body.

Topics: Body Burden; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Female; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Humans; Leukemia; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Maximum Allowable Concentration; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Nuclear Warfare; Occupational Medicine; Osteosarcoma; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms; Plutonium; Radiation Injuries; Radiation Tolerance; Radium; Strontium Radioisotopes; Thyroid Neoplasms

Resistance to malignant erythropoiesis induced by Friend spleen focus-forming virus and resistance to marrow stem cell allografts are under genetic control. Strains of mice, e.g., C57BL/6 and B10.D2, which are homozygous for resistance at the Fv-2 locus, are also good rejectors of most bone marrow allografts. (89)Sr, a bone-seeking isotope, irradiates marrow but not other lymphoid organs and abrogates resistance to marrow allografts without suppressing T- or B-cell functions. Thus, marrow-dependent effector cells (M cells) seem to resist allogeneic stem cells. To test if the genetic resistance to Friend virus (FV) is also mediated by M cells, B6 mice were treated with (89)Sr using a dosage schedule known to abrogate resistance to allogeneic marrow cells. 9 days after FV infection of such mice, the spleens showed malignant erythroblastosis which could not be suppressed by prior hypertransfusion, a procedure which suppresses physiologic erythropoiesis. Such (89)Sr-treated B6 mice also supported extensive virus replication, while control mice did not. FV markedly suppressed the ability of (89)Sr-treated B6 mice to produce antisheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibodies, a feature seen normally only in genetically susceptible mice. Thus, (89)Sr-treated B6 mice behaved in these respects as if they were susceptible to FV. When increasing doses of (89)Sr were administered to B6 mice, a dose-related loss of resistance to FV was seen. Therefore, it appears that (89)Sr-sensitive M cells mediate the genetic resistance to FV. The results of experiments with (89)Sr indicated that genetically resistant mice would be expected to possess target cells which are susceptible to transformation by FV. To verify this corollary, bone marrow cells from B10.D2 (Fv-2(rr)) mice were transplanted into previously infected and lethally irradiated DBA/2 (Fv-2(ss)) recipients which share the same H-2(d) alleles. 5-15 days later, the spleens of DBA/2 primary recipients yielded transformed cells which were capable of producing splenic tumor colonies upon transplantation into adult, unirradiated B10.D2 secondary recipients. Various control experiments clearly indicated that the tumor colonies so induced were of B10.D2 marrow origin. This indicated that B10.D2 stem cells could be transformed when allowed to interact with FV in the spleens of susceptible DBA/2 mice. However, 30 days after transplantation of B10.D2 bone marrow cells into DBA/2 recipients, no transformed cells were detected. Appare

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Bone Marrow; Bone Marrow Cells; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Erythrocytes; Friend murine leukemia virus; Graft Rejection; Histocompatibility; Immunity, Cellular; Immunosuppression Therapy; Leukemia; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred Strains; Radiation Chimera; Radiation Effects; Sheep; Strontium Radioisotopes; Transplantation, Homologous; Virus Replication

Topics: Animals; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mice; Radiation Injuries, Experimental; Radioactivity; Strontium; Strontium Radioisotopes